Texas Marinduquenos making a difference in the life of Katrina and Rita Victims - September 2005

 

Marinduque Society of Texas hosts Katrina Evacuees

August 2005 was indeed a very depressing and stressful month for residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, when Hurricane Katrina hit them bad. The Texas Chapter of Marinduque International headed by Gerry Mantaring extended their hand and opened up their homes to assist the victims especially those from our province of Marinduque. They became host for 4 families from Marinduque, donating clothes, food and helping them get assistance from Salvation Army, Red Cross and local churches. Linda Mantaring Claire, Gerry's sister took in 13 people, including 6 children ages between 3 to 9 years ,for three months. Gerry and Lorna took in 2 families a total of 8 adults for several months as well. It was a very confusing time for everyone but with our kababayans care and concern, now the people from New Orleans are starting to get back to their homes and establishing a normalcy to their lives.

By Linda Claire

 

 

Just lucky to have Balikbayan Boxes in time - February 2006

 

Balikbayan Boxes Bound For Marinduque

This year 2006,The Texas Chapter sent several balikbayan boxes to our dear province. This was made possible by the generosity of Jim and Linda Mantaring Claire .Six boxes were sent home full of medical supplies and were solicited from Houston Northwest Medical Hospital by Dickie Labao RN(he hails from Mogpog),from West Houston Medical Center by Lorna Mantaring RN(Gerry"s wife),and from other local clinics.

These supplies were sorted out and are as follows:

Extra large BP cuffs

EKG electrodes

Suction canisters and holders

Yankeur Suction tubes

IV med labels

Tourniquets,large and small

Surgical Blades

OR Drapes

Laryngoscope baldes and handles

Penrose Drains

Central line dressing kits

Stomach tubes

Rectal Tubes

Exchange Transfusion trays

Spinal trays,

Hemmorhoid rings

Douche bags

Foley cath sets

ET tubes assorted sizes

Mcgill Forceps

Pediatric and adult BP cuffs

Patient Gowns

Disposable OR gowns

Urinary Drainage bags

Sterile Gloves

Assorted adhesive tapes

Aroid Wall sphygmomanometer

Bulb and ear syringes

Sterile syringes assorted sizes

Sterile needles

Syringes with NS

IV cath sets

Sutures sets

Flashlights

Butterfly IV needles

O2 nebulizers

Quick Pace Electrodes

O2 flow meters

The enclosed list was presented to and accepted by Dr. Gerry Caballes (Administrator of Marinduque Provincial Hosp) and Mrs Hilda Mirafuente (Chief Nurse).

Medical supplies were also donated to Gasan lying in Clinic and was accepted by the Mayor , Capt Rolando Tolentino and Mrs Lim( representing Gasan Ladies Auxilliary).

We now realize that any form of assistance to our province, no matter how small. seems big to them, and they are all so grateful.

 

Mission of Love - February 2006

 

The following tasks were done by members of our organization

Lorna Mantaring, RN

Lorna attended orientation and spent five days in the field doing screening, glucose testing and one day in the Marinduque Provincial Hospitals a recovery room nurse. She also assisted in the pharmacy as staffing needs demanded. Lorna also helped organize a medical screening at Marinduque State College, and did patient and staff teaching at the institution.

Gerry Mantaring, E. Engineer

Gerry worked at the Provincial hospital for three days and then worked in the field for three days. While at the hospital he secured the grounding of the High Tech Cauterization machine required for safety and tested for trouble free operation This machine was provided by one of the mission MD's..Gerry also fixed various instruments and equipment that was not working at the hospital. He fixed and calibrated existing lab equipment, and also repaired the lab blood refrigerator. Gerry provided and installed blood pressure monitors in the Provincial Hospital recovery rooms and emergency station a total of 8 mercury type BP’s and luckily to have parts that a hospital in Houston where Lorna worked was ready to dump. He surveyed the problem of there water tank why the auto shut off is not working and made recommendation of what can be done. There so much to do but not enough resources and time. In addition, Gerry also organized and managed a blood pressure screening and a glucose monitoring and screening for over 100 staff members at the Marinduque State College who have heard about the mission but do not have the convenience to get out. Lastly have gathered interviews to locals and leaders about the positive reactions of the mission.

Erlinda Mantaring Claire, RN

Linda attended orientation and spent five days in the field doing multiple screening of patients prior to being treated. She also spent a day in the recovery room at the Marinduque Provincial Hospital. She assisted in the pharmacy as time required. Linda also assisted in monitoring blood pressure and doing glucose testing at Marinduque State College. She also provided similar monitoring and testing in the Santol Barangay during the six days of the medical mission and made several referrals to the hospital and mission screening efforts.

James J. Claire, White Man

Jim assisted in the operating room. He organized the second operating room on the first day and assisted in over 18 operations of local residents. Jim then worked in the field going to Santa Cruz, Gasan, and Boac. He assisted in initial screening of patients and their families. Jim also assisted with a funeral arrangement. At the Marinduque State College he assisted in blood pressure screening and glucose monitoring as well as patient screening. He started patient teaching which was followed with patient teaching by native speakers. He also assisted in the pharmacy during the three days he was in the field.

By James Claire

 

Texas Marinduquenos raise $1,000 for relief fund for victims of Reming typhoon (donated through MI) - December 2006

 

 

We often hear the saying that it is more blessed to give than to recieve.  I think that is really true.  We saw 53 operations completed in the Marinduque Provincial Hospital Operating Room.  We were blessed with a large number of excellent MD's of several specialities.  We found patients waiting for us when we arrived at the province and the hospital.  This is the third medical mission for many from Houston, and the second one for my wife and I, the first for a few friends from the island that we happened to drag along.  They had so much fun, we will not have to drag them along in future years.  They will be on the bus [and plane] dragging us. 

Anyway, we happened to be assigned to the operating room. Being that I do not speak the  local language  very well,  I worried, but the OR  ran smoothly,  because of me or inspite of me, we did  53 major operations and a few minor ones in the main two operating rooms at the hospital.  There was a team that did eye surgery that was equally as busy.  When the surgeons were not busy in the main operating room, they were doing minor surgery in the outpatient department.   In the OPD we saw far more patients than we saw in the main OR. 

While we were in the OR several teams were in local towns, seeing to the actual medical part of our mission. 

Independent of the medical mission, my wife and I managed to continue our mission in providing vision and screenings for the local folks.  A year or so ago, we saw over 100 patients and provided eye glasses for the local population.

We started with the town of Boac and then went to Gasan.  This year, during Holy Week we did blood pressure screening, blood glucose screening and provided eyeglasses for over 150 people, doing so in the town of Mogpog. 

We also set up a network with the local dentist to provide flouride treatments and to provide Colgate tooth paste and tooth brushes to local children at a cost so low we can not in good faith, turn the offer down.

We plan a project to offer services, and dental care products to 1000 to 1500 children in all the six towns. We hope to see the fruits of this network by years end. 

To say that we got more out of the mission and the care we provided to the local people would be an understatement.  One small boy, about 6, waited for three days to get placed onto the operating room schedule.  His mother is a women of great faith.  On Wednesday of our surgical mission week, this women smiled, kissed her son, and without tears, passed his hand from her's to mine.  I picked up the child, returned his tattered slippers to his mother and carried him to the operating room table.  He had a hernia larger than a soft ball.  The last thing he did before anesthesia was to smile at me.  I carried him to the recovery room after the surgery.  The first thing he saw when he woke up was his mother, followed by my ugly mug.  He said thank you.  This small boy visited me at home about six week later.  He brought me a papaya.  I cherish the seeds and have seeds from that papaya growing in Santol.

To say we provided a service to the truely poor is a true statement.  I got far more than I gave, and others remarked about having done the same.  The small boy mentioned was not alone.  We saw 52 other patients in the main hospital OR's.  All seemed so appreciative. 

James J. Claire